The LOS ANGELES TIMES and BALTIMORE SUN report this morning that most of the remaining ESPN Zones will soon be “shut down.” Last year the Atlanta and Denver stores were closed. Next to be shuttered: Las Vegas, New York, D.C., Baltimore and Chicago.
An AEG source told me this morning that the only ESPN-themed restaurants to survive - for now - will be the the location in Anaheim and the downtown Los Angeles location.
The Anaheim store is owned and operated by a Disney subsidiary and is part of the Downtown Disney development. The ESPN Zone in L.A. is owned and operated by AEG and is the cornerstone property of AEG’s L.A. Live development - located just a few feet from Staples Center.
The closures are no surprise.
ESPN originally promoted the stores with individual Bristol personalities like Stuart Scott, Dan Patrick and Chris Berman. As I’ve written in the past, the network has subsequently gone away from promoting individuals and focusing more on the promotion of its relationships with the NFL, MLB and NBA.
That change of marketing focus and the downturn in the restaurant business the past 18 months spelled the demise of the ESPN Zones.
It what turned out to be foreshadowing of the the closures, the newest ESPN Zone, in the downtown Los Angeles L.A. Live development, was built to be considerably smaller than its chain restaurant counterparts. Looking back, that may have been an indication that the entire concept was being scaled back.
While the Anaheim and New York ESPN Zones in many ways resembled a Las Vegas-style sports book, the new L.A. location came off as nothing more than a garden-variety sports-themed restaurant.
The closure of the ESPN Zones around the country isn’t a reflection of the dissatisfaction of the sports media network. More a response to the economy and the fact that those stores really offered nothing that wasn’t being done better by competitors.
10:57 am on June 9th, 2010
The one in Chicago sucked. Mediocre food and a mediocre beer list at sky high prices.
10:58 am on June 9th, 2010
Where will they record “The Sports Reporters”!?
11:01 am on June 9th, 2010
I liked the one in NYC, but the one in Vegas was horrible.
11:16 am on June 9th, 2010
ESPN Zones suck big time! As James said, the food is mediocre, at best, and the prices are outrageous.
I’ve been to the ones in Vegas, LA & Anaheim and all 3 of them sucked.
12:11 pm on June 9th, 2010
I went to the one in NYC. NYC prices + 20%. Terrible.
12:21 pm on June 9th, 2010
president obama found them to be creative and competent…wait…thats what the idiot said about his own efforts and government response to the spill
12:31 pm on June 9th, 2010
Well another victim of the economy. That idiot Bush ran the country into the ground and now Obama is imcompetent.
12:37 pm on June 9th, 2010
What about the one on the Disney Boardwalk in Orlando? Also part of Disney Id guess…damn ill miss those chucken wings. damnit
2:13 pm on June 9th, 2010
Been to the one in Anaheim - above average food surprisingly. However, it was pricey. These theme restaurants are relics of the late 1990’s. The model is totally unsustainable in this economic climate. And no, I don’t blame Bush or Obama on this one. The business model is merely outdated.
2:22 pm on June 9th, 2010
@Rizz: The Disney Boardwalk location is an ESPN Club — different branding — and reports out of Orlando are that it’s safe for now.
Otherwise, having been to the Baltimore and Washington Zones, I agree that it’s average food at ridiculous prices, and the whole eat-and-play experience is done better by places like Dave and Buster’s.
The Zone concept needed a massive overhaul to survive, and Disney wisely decided not to waste the money.
10:46 pm on June 9th, 2010
Food is actually very good, but pricey for a place you are going to take the kids to play games and watch sports. Then on certain days they boot you after two hours.
11:54 pm on June 9th, 2010
I’ll never understand it. High prices and terrible food reviews should have translated to improved menus at lower prices and skinny busty girls in short shorts and tank tops. Instead they choose to close.
Same for the tanking movie industry that now has decided it’s cool to charge $20 for us fools to watch a flick with no talent so called actors. I wonder how high the popcorn and soda will go. The killing of the golden goose.
6:52 pm on June 10th, 2010
I have been to the DC location many times. Last week, only 1 sitting at the bar and the dumb a_ _ bartender could not remember what I was drinking. I asked her if I was drinking a bottle beer would that help! The only one at the bar and the dumba_ _ could not remember my drink. By the way, it was $8 for a draft beer!